Cuff link



Sept. 21, 1937.

C. H. HONE CUFF LINK Filed Aug. 25, 1934 3 f8 4 immunizing 9 9'- /6 7 k a 1 INVENTOR. Char/es Home 339.5. BY

ATTORNEY.

snares near eurransn Gharles H. Home, Millburn N. it, designer, by mesne assignments, to Swank Products, Inc,

a corporation oi lhleiaware Application August 23, 193i, geriai No."8d1,%5

5 Claims.

This invention relates to cufi links and the object of the invention is to simplify former constructions and at the same time provide a structure which will be stronger, more durable and more readily manipulated than prior constructions, and which' may be expeditiously and easily inserted and removed from the most stimy starched cufis.

Cuff links, as heretofore made, generally embody a link member or tie at the opposite ends of which are secured appropriate heads, one or both of which are generally pivotal with respect to the link element, so as to permit the structure to be more readily associated with a cuff.

In the majority of structures heretofore employed, however, there are projections incident to the pivotal connections between the movable head and the link element which are apt to catch and tear the stitches which enter into the'buttonhole structure. Furthermore, it is common to pivotally connect the movable head laterally or to one side of the link.. v

The present invention difiers from these structures in that the link' element is bifurcated to provide spaced apart arms between which the movable head is mounted for pivotal movement, the arrangement being such that there are no sharp or irregular projections and when pressure is applied to the movable head to force it through a buttonhole, the pressure is equally distributed throughout the pivotal connection in such manner as to place no undue bending strains thereon.

A further object of the invention is to so constitute the pivotal connection between the link element and the movable head that it is adapted to be-normally held in either of its two distinct positions. In other words, it may be locked in this position for insertion into or removal from a cuff and it can be similarly locked in its normal closed position after introduction into the cull, whereby it cannot be inadvertently displaced or lost. The invention further provides for improvements in the locking means referred to in order to give greater strength and durability than heretofore found in cufl links.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from thehereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be under- (ci. err-res) stood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a cuff link embodying'the present invention.

Figure 2 is a central section through the mov- 5 able head of the structure shown in Figure-1 and illustrating a fragmentary part oi. the link element.

Figures 3 and 4 are similar views of modified forms of construction.

- Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In referring to the drawing, I designates generally a link element of the structure. This link element is preferably bifurcated at both ends, 15 so as to provide a relatively long slot 2, at one end, and a relatively short slot 3 at the. other end. Between the arms 4 at the opposite sides of the slot 3- is introduced a stationary head t of the cuff link andthis head is preferably 501- dered or otherwise permanently secured rigidly in position with respect to the -link element I.

Between the arms 6 at the opposite sides of the a slot 2 is pivotally secured the movable head 1.- This head is shown in the form 01 an elongated tubular section provided centrally with oppositely disposed circular holes 8 in its side walls and through'which holes a pivot pin 9 is adapted to be passed. This pivot pin 9 is preferably in the form of a square bar, the opposite ends of which are anchored in correspondingly shaped holes in the arms 6 with the intermediate portion of the pin 9 extending through the hollow center of the head I. The circular holes 8 have a diameter substantially equal to the diagonal dimension of the pin 9, so as to permit rotary movement of the head I about the pin and at the same time substantially centralize the head with respect to the pin, so that saidrotation will be substantially coaxial with respect to the pin. 40 If desired, that portion of the pin on which the head .I rotates may be made circular, so as to give a better bearing, but I find in practice that this is not necessary. The head I is thus mount- 'ed to rotate on'the pin 9 and the slot 2 is'made ure 2, the opposite ends of the head 7 are shown as. closed by jewels l0 and directly adjacent the opposite sides of the pin 9 are positioned plungers II which preferably'substantialh' conform to the cross section of thehead I and between the jewels polygonal section of the pin 9 for the purpose of locking the head 1 against inadvertent rotation with respect to the pin and consequently with respect to the link element l. Inasmuch as the section of the pin 9 is rectangular, it follows that the head may be locked either in its closed posi-- tion, as shown in Figure l, or in a position at right angles to the position of Figure 1 with the head 1 substantially alined with respect to the link i. When in this latter position, the device may be readily associated with a cufi. by forcing the head longitudinally through the buttonholes thereof. This operation is facilitated by making the jewels iii of tapering configuration. After the head I has been passed through the buttonholes, it may be manually rotated against the tension of the springs l2 into the position shown in Figure 1 to close thelink and thus maintain it in position. When in this latter position, thesprings I2 exert suflicient pressure through the plungers I I upon the flat opposite sides of the pin 9 to preclude inadvertent pivotal movement of the head'l.

I have referred to the use ofjewels ID at the opposite ends of the head i, but, if desired, these may be omitted and the ends of the head closed in any appropriate way and shaped in any desired form. Both of the heads 5 and 1 are also shown as of the same substantially rectangular prismatic shape, although they may be of other shapes if so desired, and may be made of different shapes from one another. However, the form shown is highly satisfactory. Moreover, the link element I is shown as projecting somewhat beyond the heads in Figure 1, and the heads are shaped at their centers to conform to the extended portions of the link I, although the ends of the link may be cut off flush with the face of the heads and the extensions on the heads omitted if desired.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of construction. Here, instead of employing two helical springs bearing against the opposite lateral edges of the pin 9,-I employ a single double armed leaf spring i4, so formed that its arms 15 and i6 bear against the opposite sides of the pin and are bowed to engage therewith under considerable pressure which is amply sufficient to lock the head I in either of its operative positions.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the structure of Figure 3 and illustrates the manner in which the pin 9 is firmly secured to the arms 6 of the link element with the arms l5 and iii of leaf spring [4 bearing against the opposite flat faces ofthe pin to lock the head I in position.

Figure 4 illustrates a further modified form of construction. Here the head 1 is rotatable on the pin 9 as before, but is normally locked in position by means of two leaf springs i1 and I8, the free ends of which engage with the pin 9, while the opposite ends of which are firmly secured to the interior of the wall of the head 1 as by rivets l9.

In Figures 3 and 4, leaf spring arrangements are shown, but I prefer in practice to use the structure of Figure 2 embodying the two helical springs I! for the reason that these springs will retain their resiliency much longer than a leaf the intermediate cross piece 20 not only facilitates assembly, but also serves to hold both arms of the spring in proper cooperative relation intermediate the ends of the head and thereby relieve the jewels from outward pressure.

In the structures which I have described, th

. device has been defined in each instance as having a fixed head and a movable head, but, if desired, both heads may be made pivotal, without departing from this invention.

The foregoing detailed descriptionsets forth the invention in its preferred practical and illustrative forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an assembly of the character described,

a link provided at its opposite ends with heads,

at least one of which is pivotal with respect to the link, said link being bifurcated to receive the movable head, a pin extending across the bifurcated end of the link and through the movable head and having a polygonal cross section within the confines of said head, and a' pair of plungers positioned within the heads at the opposite sides of said pin, and a spring interposed between each plunger and the corresponding end of the head and exerting sufilcient tension upon the plungers to preclude inadvertent rotation of the head. r

2. In a cuff link, an elongated body member comprising two spaced arms at one end thereof, a head secured to the other end thereof, an angular bar secured between saidspaced arms, a tubular head having aligned openings for pivotal mounting on said angular bar, a U-shaped spring in said tubular head for engaging said angular bar to releasably lock said tubular head in selected positions parallel to said body member and at right angles thereto, said U-shaped spring comprising arcuate spring tongues contacting said angular bar on opposite sides thereof and contacting the walls of said tubular head at its ends, and closure members for the ends of said tubular head.

3. In a cuff link, an elongated body member comprising two spaced arms at one endthereof, a head secured to the other end thereof, an individual angular bar extending between and mounted on' each of saidspaced arms and presenting faces one in line with the body and one at right angles thereto, a tubular head having aligned openings pivotally mounted on saidangular bar, spring means concealed in said tubular head for engaging one of the surfaces of said at right angles thereto, a tubular head having 7 aoosnaa aligned openings pivotally mounted on said angular bar, spring means concealed in said tubular head for engaging one of the surfaces of said angular bar to releasably lock said tubular head in selected positions in line with said body memher or at right angles thereto, said spring means comprising arcuate leaf spring tongues contacting said angular bar on opposite sidesthereoi and contacting the walls of said tubular head at their ends, and closure members for the ends of said tubular head.

5. In a cuff link, an elongated body member comprising a head secured at one end thereof,

ing the faces of the bar for retaining the head 10 in difierent positions aligned with or at right angles to the arms.

CHARLES H. HONE. 

